EP1433007B1 - Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1433007B1
EP1433007B1 EP02755362A EP02755362A EP1433007B1 EP 1433007 B1 EP1433007 B1 EP 1433007B1 EP 02755362 A EP02755362 A EP 02755362A EP 02755362 A EP02755362 A EP 02755362A EP 1433007 B1 EP1433007 B1 EP 1433007B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fibre
keying element
keying
face
angled
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02755362A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1433007A2 (en
Inventor
Jan Watte
Daniel Daems
Jacco Elenbaas
Twan Hultermans
Ton Bolhaar
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA
Original Assignee
Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA filed Critical Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA
Publication of EP1433007A2 publication Critical patent/EP1433007A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1433007B1 publication Critical patent/EP1433007B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3809—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs without a ferrule embedding the fibre end, i.e. with bare fibre end
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3818—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type
    • G02B6/3822—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type with beveled fibre ends

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres. More in particular, the present invention relates to a method of splicing optical fibres in which the ends of the fibres are cut at a non-perpendicular angle.
  • Optical fibres can be interconnected or "spliced" in several ways. Fusion splicing involves heating the ends of the fibres to be spliced in order to produce a continuous transition.
  • Mechanical splicing involves abutting the fibre ends in a suitable support or "splice". As mechanical splicing does not require any beating, it is often preferred for splicing in the field. The mechanical splice device needs to be carefully designed to achieve a proper alignment of the fibre ends. Examples of such splice devices are disclosed in United States Patents US 4,687,288 and US 5,394,496.
  • a special type of releasable mechanical fibre splice is a fibre optic connector. An example of such a connector is disclosed in United States Patent US 4,705,352.
  • EP 0419699 A1 and JT S9-038707 each disclose similar arrangements in which the ferrules of optical fibre connectors are modified by polishing the ferrules to provide non-perpendicular end-faces on the fibres and parts of the ferrule end-faces that are non-perpendicular (to the longitudinal axis). Again, the ferrules are aligned and brought together such that there is some contact between the end faces of the ferrules, but an air gap between the optical fibre end-faces.
  • DE 3701421 A1 discloses an optical fibre connector in which the ferrules are ground and polished to provide angled end-faces of the fibres and the ferrules. The ferrules are brought together, and keyed, such that the end faces of both the ferrules and the optical fibres are in contact with each other, and substantially parallel to each other.
  • fibres having such an angled end face potentially perform very well, a problem arises when they are to be spliced.
  • the end faces For the angled end faces to abut properly, leaving virtually no gap, the end faces have to be parallel. This requires the fibres to have a very specific keyed orientation when they are accommodated in a splice body.
  • the relative orientation of the fibres is arbitrary.
  • optical gel index matching gel
  • the present invention provides a method of splicing optical fibres, the method comprising the steps of affixing a first fibre to a first keying element having a particular radial orientation with a portion of the fibre projecting beyond the keying element, inserting the keying element in a support which receives the keying element only in a specific radial orientation, cleaving the fibre affixed to the inserted keying element at a predetermined angle ( ⁇ ) relative to the support to form an angled fibre end face on a remaining portion of the fibre projecting beyond the keying element, removing the keying element from the support, inserting the keying element into a splicing body which receives the keying element only in a specific radial orientation such that the angled fibre end face has a predictable radial orientation with respect to the splice body, and repeating the above steps for a second fibre and a second keying element, whereby the first angled fibre end face and the second angled fibre end face abut resiliently in a
  • the said specific radial orientation when cleaving need not be identical to the one when accommodating in the splice body.
  • the orientation of the second keying element when the fibre ends are abutting will generally be 180 rotated relative to that of the first keying element (assuming the keying elements are identical and use the same support when cleaving).
  • the fibre optic connector disclosed in the above-mentioned United States Patent US 4,705, 352 has a keying mechanism to ensure that upon repeated couplings the fibre connector is always connected in the same relative position to prevent scarring of the end of the fibre. There is no suggestion to use such a keying mechanism for angled cleaving. On the contrary, said United States Patent suggests that the fibre could be spliced at any relative orientation.
  • the support in which the key elements are received when the fibres are being cleaved is preferably attached to the clearing device so as not to allow any movement of the support relative to the cleaving device.
  • the support may be integral with the cleaving device.
  • the angle ( ⁇ ) at which the fibres are cleaved is between 5° and 12° relative to a line normal to the longitudinal axis of each fibre. (It is noted that the said angle is always measured relative to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fibre; an angle of 0° therefore implies a perpendicular end face). In preferred embodiments an angle of 7° to 9° is used, although other angles may also be used.
  • the step of affixing a fibre to a keying element involves shrinking a heat-recoverable sleeve around the keying member.
  • the keying elements may each consist of two parts which are clamped together by the heat-recoverable sleeve. In this way, a secure clamping of the fibres may be achieved which may assist in providing axial strain relief.
  • the step of affixing a fibre to a keying element involves crimping the keying element.
  • axial strain relief may be provided by the keying elements.
  • the abutting angled fibre end faces are accommodated in an alignment member.
  • an alignment member which is known per se, provides a lateral alignment of the ends of the fibres.
  • the alignment member comprises a first element and a second element between which fibres may be accommodated, at least one element being provided with a substantially V-shaped groove which is covered when the elements are brought together.
  • the mechanical splice 1 shown merely by way of non-limiting example in Fig. 1 comprises a substantially tubular body 2, an alignment member 3 and two keying elements 4 and 5.
  • Optical fibres 20, 21 are accommodated in the keying elements 4, 5 respectively.
  • the cladding has been removed from the end portions of the fibres.
  • the fibre ends meet in the alignment member 3 which is provided with a V-shaped groove 6 for accommodating and aligning the fibre ends.
  • the groove has widened sections 6' at the ends of the alignment member 3 which allow the fibres to buckle in those areas so as to maintain a compressive force on the abutting fibre end faces.
  • the splicing device 1 is provided with a mechanism for defining and maintaining the angular orientation of the optical fibres.
  • This mechanism comprises keying ridges or protrusions 7 provided on the keying elements 4, 5, which protrusions can be accommodated in keying slots 8 provided in the body 2.
  • the combination of the protrusions 7 and the slots 8 ensures that the keying elements 4, 5 can be inserted into the body 2 in one particular angular orientation only (see also Fig. 2). It will be understood that the fibres 20, 21 are firmly and immovably held in the keying elements 4, 5, for example by crimping the keying elements onto the fibres.
  • the keying elements of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are held by resilient latches which latch behind ridges 10 of the keying elements.
  • the latches 9 may be made of metal (e.g. metal wire) or plastic and are accommodated in slots 11.
  • the fibre ends are accommodated in the keying elements such that when the keying elements are latched, the fibre ends abut and at least one of the fibres is caused to buckle slightly in one of the widened groove portions 6'. This ensures a good contact between the fibre end faces.
  • the arrangement of the second keying element 5 is 180° rotated relative to the first keying element 4.
  • This arrangement serves to use a single keying element design for both sides of the device 1 but also, and more importantly, to ensure the correct angular orientation of the fibre end faces. This will now further be explained with reference to Fig. 3.
  • the keying element 4 (also shown in Fig. 1) is attached to a fibre 20 which has an end portion 22 from which the cladding has been removed.
  • the key element 4 is then inserted into the support 29. Due to the slot 8 and the protrusion 7, the key element 4 can only be inserted in one particular angular orientation.
  • the fibre end is then cleaved under an angle using cleaving means 28 which are known per se , for example from International Patent Application in WO 98/54608.
  • the resulting angled fibre end face 24 is schematically depicted in Fig. 4, where the angle ⁇ has been exaggerated for the sake of clarity.
  • the keying element 4 is then removed from the support 29 and may be inserted into a splice body 2.
  • splice bodies may be factory installed with one fibre, but it is of course also possible to insert both fibres in the field).
  • the protrusion 7 and slot 8 of the splice body 2 ensure that the key element 4 is inserted in a predetermined orientation, in the example shown in exactly the same orientation as when being cleaved.
  • springs 19 are accommodated between the key elements and key element holders 18 to provide a bias pressure ensuring a good contact of the fibre end faces.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
EP02755362A 2001-10-04 2002-09-11 Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres Expired - Lifetime EP1433007B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0123830 2001-10-04
GBGB0123830.2A GB0123830D0 (en) 2001-10-04 2001-10-04 "Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres"
PCT/GB2002/004163 WO2003029866A2 (en) 2001-10-04 2002-09-11 Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1433007A2 EP1433007A2 (en) 2004-06-30
EP1433007B1 true EP1433007B1 (en) 2007-03-28

Family

ID=9923228

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02755362A Expired - Lifetime EP1433007B1 (en) 2001-10-04 2002-09-11 Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres

Country Status (21)

Country Link
US (1) US7014372B2 (pl)
EP (1) EP1433007B1 (pl)
KR (1) KR100913857B1 (pl)
CN (1) CN100347579C (pl)
AT (1) ATE358285T1 (pl)
AU (1) AU2002321651B2 (pl)
BR (1) BR0213032A (pl)
CA (1) CA2460527C (pl)
DE (1) DE60219183T2 (pl)
DK (1) DK1433007T3 (pl)
ES (1) ES2284906T3 (pl)
GB (1) GB0123830D0 (pl)
IL (1) IL160778A0 (pl)
MX (1) MXPA04003152A (pl)
NO (1) NO20041812L (pl)
PL (1) PL204576B1 (pl)
PT (1) PT1433007E (pl)
RU (1) RU2295143C2 (pl)
TW (1) TWI225553B (pl)
WO (1) WO2003029866A2 (pl)
ZA (1) ZA200401878B (pl)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7887244B2 (en) * 2008-06-13 2011-02-15 Belden Cdt (Canada) Inc. Reversible fiber connector with mechanical splice and sliding lock
US8075198B2 (en) * 2008-06-23 2011-12-13 Belden Cdt (Canada) Inc. Reversible fiber connector with mechanical sliding splice
US8376631B2 (en) 2008-08-19 2013-02-19 Belden Cdt (Canada) Inc. Slide actuated field installable fiber optic connector
US7811006B2 (en) * 2008-09-02 2010-10-12 Belden CD (Canada) Inc. Field installable fiber optic connector and installation tool
JP5205452B2 (ja) * 2009-02-12 2013-06-05 株式会社フジクラ 光コネクタ
AU2009227906B2 (en) * 2009-10-21 2015-04-02 Tyco Electronics Services Gmbh Apparatus for mechanically splicing optic fibres
US8506178B2 (en) 2011-06-24 2013-08-13 Go!Foton Holdings, Inc. Mechanical splicer apparatus for fiber optic cables
US8494331B2 (en) 2011-07-06 2013-07-23 Go!Foton Holdings, Inc. Apparatus and method for mass producing optical fiber splice-on connector subunits
US8506179B2 (en) 2011-07-21 2013-08-13 Go!Foton Holdings, Inc. Deformable plastic radially symmetric mechanical splicers and connectors for optical fibers
EP2753962A4 (en) * 2011-09-07 2015-08-19 Adc Telecommunications Inc FIBER OPTIC CONNECTION SYSTEM
US8985864B2 (en) 2011-09-07 2015-03-24 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Optical fiber alignment device and method
US8979395B2 (en) 2011-09-07 2015-03-17 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Tools and methods for preparing a ferrule-less optical fiber connector
US8985867B2 (en) 2011-09-07 2015-03-24 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Optical fiber connection system
JP6032937B2 (ja) 2012-02-29 2016-11-30 スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー 光ファイバケーブル接続器
GB2501974B (en) * 2012-04-02 2016-09-07 Oxford Fiber Ltd Profiling of cleaved angled end faces of optical fiber(s)
CN102944915A (zh) * 2012-11-30 2013-02-27 清华大学 一种光纤的连接方法
WO2017158437A1 (en) * 2016-03-16 2017-09-21 Nexans Reversi ble polari ty mpo fi ber opti c connector wl th a removable key

Citations (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998054608A1 (en) * 1997-05-30 1998-12-03 Oxford Fiber Optic Tools Limited Tool for angled cleaving of optical fibers or the like

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JPS5938707A (ja) 1982-08-30 1984-03-02 Fujitsu Ltd 光フアイバコネクタ
US4783137A (en) * 1983-11-15 1988-11-08 Kosman Karel J Fiber optic coupling system
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2295143C2 (ru) 2007-03-10
PL367542A1 (pl) 2005-02-21
RU2004114241A (ru) 2005-02-27
DK1433007T3 (da) 2007-07-02
GB0123830D0 (en) 2001-11-28
ATE358285T1 (de) 2007-04-15
CA2460527C (en) 2012-06-26
BR0213032A (pt) 2004-10-05
ES2284906T3 (es) 2007-11-16
CN100347579C (zh) 2007-11-07
TWI225553B (en) 2004-12-21
WO2003029866A2 (en) 2003-04-10
MXPA04003152A (es) 2004-07-08
PL204576B1 (pl) 2010-01-29
CA2460527A1 (en) 2003-04-10
AU2002321651B2 (en) 2007-12-06
NO20041812L (no) 2004-05-04
DE60219183D1 (de) 2007-05-10
DE60219183T2 (de) 2008-01-24
US20050018982A1 (en) 2005-01-27
US7014372B2 (en) 2006-03-21
PT1433007E (pt) 2007-05-31
CN1564954A (zh) 2005-01-12
EP1433007A2 (en) 2004-06-30
IL160778A0 (en) 2004-08-31
ZA200401878B (en) 2005-03-08
WO2003029866A3 (en) 2003-10-30
KR100913857B1 (ko) 2009-08-26
KR20040048418A (ko) 2004-06-09

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